Startups

Andrea Savage, FeedKC, Pure Pitch Rally

UMKC student-led FeedKC will pitch for donations, connections at Pure Pitch Rally

By Tommy Felts / October 12, 2019

Continuing a tradition of showcasing student entrepreneurs, Tuesday’s Pure Pitch Rally is expected to feature a pitch from FeedKC, a group run by students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. And thanks to a private donor to the UMKC Bloch School of Management, all funds designated for FeedKC will be matched up to $10,000. Click…

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Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council; and Greg Kratofil, Polsinelli

Report: KC tech industry brings in $12B, attracts Hyperloop, but city still struggling to fill talent pool

By Tommy Felts / October 10, 2019

Despite facing a shortage of skilled talent, the tech industry in Kansas City contributed roughly $12 billion — or about 10 percent — to the local economy in 2018, according to an annual report released by the KC Tech Council, a nonprofit that aims to spur tech growth in the city. Nearly one in 10…

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Sandy Kemper, C2FO unicorn

Fresh off $200M funding haul, C2FO acquires India’s largest payment platform in bid to expand market position

By Tommy Felts / October 10, 2019

Kansas City-built C2FO will continue to expand its global prowess with the acquisition of India-based Priority Vendor, the startup announced Thursday.  “This is an important milestone in C2FO India’s journey,” said Pradeep Gode, C2FO’s country head for India, in a release about the acquisition of Priority Vendor — India’s largest early payment platform.  The move…

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The Woodsmiths

Playing for tips and contacts: Artist-entrepreneurs travel across Midwest to fill PorchFestKC with music

By Tommy Felts / October 10, 2019

Kansas City is a world-class destination for entrepreneurial musicians and artists hoping to hit high notes in business, said Dominic Roy. “I’m a singer-songwriter who’s trying to make it. I don’t want fame or glory or anything like that. I just want people to relate and I want people to feel what I’m trying to…

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Kathryn Golden, PorchFestKC

One-woman act with 68 stages: Kathryn Golden rallies 152 bands for PorchFestKC

By Tommy Felts / October 9, 2019

A front porch concert isn’t the typical way to meet your neighbors, Kathryn Golden admitted, but it’s unconventional experiences like those that truly unite communities, the PorchFestKC founder said from atop a stoop in the Midtown Roanoke neighborhood. PorchFestKC — the city’s original porch-packed community music celebration, which returns Saturday for its fifth year —…

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